Classes and Workshops
Spring & Summer 2025
Sketching and Painting Animals from Life with Alison Nicholls
JUL 30, 31, AUG 1
In this unique workshop you will divide your time between sketching animals at West Place Animal Sanctuary, and painting at the Guild. Professional wildlife artist Alison Nicholls has been teaching her sketching and watercolor techniques on African Art Safaris since 2011. In this workshop she will demonstrate how to quickly and accurately sketch animals, and how to use your sketches to create expressive paintings.
Day 1 9AM-4PM: morning practicing sketching at the Guild, afternoon at West Place Animal Sanctuary for live sketching.
Day 2 9AM-4PM: morning sketching at West Place Animal Sanctuary, afternoon at the Guild for a watercolor demo and begin a painting based on your sketches.
Day 3 9AM-NOON: morning at the Guild continuing to work on your paintings.
Tuition fee includes a $24 donation to the Animal Sanctuary.
Planning and Painting Watercolors with Bill Lane
SEP 8 - NOV 10 | 2PM-5PM
10 MONDAYS - During the Fall class session, we’ll explore different watercolor techniques, through exercises and/or demos, fine-tuning your value studies and planning your composition before you start painting. This will help ensure you start with a successful design … and ultimately a successful painting! (Solid planning, a value sketch and drawing skills will make your watercolor painting a bit easier.)
I just ask that you have, at least, tried watercolor a little before taking this class.
Paint from your own images or set up a still life but make sure you are passionate about your subject. It will show in your work!
Painting Outside with Bill Lane and Sam Allerton Green
OCT 1 & 2 | 9AM-4PM
This fall enjoy 2 days of plein air painting on (or near) gorgeous Aquidneck Island with Bill and Sam.
Each day will start at 9am sharp with an on-site demo at the designated location. Bill and Sam will paint the same scene; Sam with oils and Bill with watercolors. They will talk about the chosen scene and why, how they plan the composition and determine the values. After which you’ll head off to paint at a nearby location of your choice. Bill and Sam will walk around providing individual attention throughout the day. We’ll have an informal group crit on location around 3:30pm and wrap up around 4pm.
Locations will be announced prior to each day and maps will be provided.
Classes and Workshops FAQs
All classes and workshops will be paid in full at time of registration.
What if I need to cancel or change my workshop?
Cancelling your class registration more than 7 days prior to the class will result in a full refund less the credit card fees if you paid by credit card.
Cancellation within 7 days of a workshop start date results in the full loss of tuition.
In the case that I am unable to attend a workshop, can I give my space to a friend?
Yes, though we ask that you please let us know if someone else will be taking your place in a workshop.
I can’t make all the days of the workshop; can I still take it?
In most cases, students can take part of a workshop, though you should let us know so we can check with the teaching artist. In general, workshops are not pro-rated if you are unable to attend the entire session.
What if PAG cancels a workshop?
In the event of under-enrollment, extreme weather, or other unforeseen incidents, the Portsmouth Arts Guild may cancel a scheduled workshop or class.
If an entire workshop is cancelled due to under-enrollment, tuition will be refunded in full. If a single session of a workshop is cancelled, and we are unable to make up the class on another date, a pro-rated tuition refund will be issued.